I’m in the process of building Revell’s A-26B in 1/48th scale, and am about to the point of gluing on the nose portion as well as gluing the engines on the nacelles.
Does anyone who has built this kit remember how much weight it takes to balance this model on its nose wheel? I am thinking about putting weight in the nacelles as well as the nose. From estimating, it looks like it is going to take a good bit of weight (I hope it doesn’t collapse the landing gear).
Never weighed it… I use BBs or shot more often than not and I just put 'em in a baggie. Then I set the baggie on the nose to see if it holds it down.
I also add weight the nacelles… But I’ve never had a nose gear collapse either…
What Hans is trying to tell you is that he mocks up the airframe on the gear then adds weight to the plane until it sits on it’s gear. When he builds it he installs that much weight.
It’s how I do it most of the time also. As long as the weight is in front of the main gear it should do the job, even behind the engines. The farther forward it is the better but some of these planes simply don’t have enough room up front.
If you are interested, Terry Dean makes custom fit nose weights for nearly everything that needs it. contact him and he’ll set you up cheap, no guessing or glueing in gobs of lead BBs.
http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/accessories/terryweights.htm
In addition to what Hans and HK are saying, pennies are a great fit behind the engines…cheap too!!! I would load that area up first. After that, as was said, place weight on the nose, til the tail comes up.
HA! I had .11 cents behind the pilots seats of a 1/72 B-26 for years!
When I refurbed the kit a couple of years ago for a commision job I removed my .11 and replaced it with lead shot.
I mix lead shot with 2-part epoxy. That mixture can be placed in inconspicuous places to build up some “nose weight”.
Gary
Can’t use new pennies in the UK, they are made of aluminium now, eh?
AL-U-Min-I-Um, not All-oom-Inium, discuss[:O]
Over here they are made of zinc. Don’t weigh near as much.